But the moral responsibility borne by Haaretz for the hundreds of murders since the beginning of the "peace process" are only a small portion of the indictment of the "newspaper".

Haaretz has always been a newspaper in which nothing but Far Left anti-Jewish opinion may be expressed, with the exception of a single weekly token Op-Ed from someone from the Right. The ratio of Far Left to moderate Right is about 100:1. This is the manifestation of the Haaretz concept of pluralism. Even the letters to the editor at the paper are screened so that only the most dogmatic followers of the communist parties or the most anti-Zionist extremists are allowed to appear.

And alongside this singleminded determination to give voice only to extremists and anti-Semites in Israel has come the long campaign by Haaretz AGAINST free speech.

That campaign came to a head in this morning’s paper in which the official editorial called openly for the suppression of free speech in Israel. Now let us be clear about something here. Haaretz has NEVER criticized any of the Arab fascist Knesset Members who regularly endorse the annihilation of Israel, support Hizbollah atrocities and attacks against Jews, support bin Laden’s attacks on the US, and openly endorse Palestinian terrorism, including suicide bombings. That is all free speech. It is all protected expression.

On the rare occasions when the Attorney General or police questions an Arab Nazi about such statements, Haaretz invariably rushes to his aid, moaning about democracy and the right to express any opinions openly. Even when Arab Knesset Members and others attacked Israeli police or other officials violently, THAT too was regarded by Haaretz as protected free expression as well, as are all acts by Arabs throwing rocks at Jews. And of course Haaretz has always regarded PLO murders of Jews with more than a drop of understanding, what with all those settlers creating frustrations for the Palestinians and all.

But Haaretz has always found that certain forms of speech are illegitimate, NOT protected by rules of democracy and so in need of prosecution. Those of course are expressions and speech with which Haaretz disagrees. It has never criticized any of the McCarthyists from Meretz and the Labor Party who file regular petitions to prosecute Rabbis and other dissidents. And it goes without saying that Haaretz has never protested the banning and criminalization of the Kach-Kahanist splinter groups nor the declaration by government McCarthyists that these are "terrorist groups" and "racists". All of a sudden, controversial opinion is NOT in need of defense.

In the editorial today (Feb 17, see below), the Haaretz editors remind everyone of how consistently they have opposed free speech and democracy when it comes to those Kahanist splinters. Haaretz regards the Kahanists as racists, unlike those Arabs calling for genocide against the Jews and praising Hitler. And in post-democratic Israel, opinions that a leftist regards as "racist" are prohibited under Israel’s racist "anti-racist" laws.

In today’s editorial, Haaretz calls on the police and the leftist Attorney General to expand their net, and to arrest and prosecute all others who express "racist" opinions, such as the opinion that says that supporters of Arab terror and of the PLO should be expelled from Israel and the "territories". These calls for "population transfer" by some on the Right constitute racism and fascism, in the eyes of the Haaretz editorial writers, and so should be prohibited. How many Israelis should be jailed according to Haaretz injunctions? Well, the editorial mentions that according to a recent opinion poll, 35% of Israelis support the idea of "population transfer" for Palestinians, and Haaretz makes it clear that it expects the police to arrest all 35% of the population who thinks so. The fact that Haaretz itself has always supported the forced ethnic cleansing and expulsion of all Jews from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip does NOT apparently constitute racism and fascism though.

It is there in black and white. Haaretz is demanding that the "Moledet" political Party, and Avigdor Lieberman and his party (not mentioned by name in the editorial but clearly indicated), should be arrested, banned and criminalized in the name of protecting democracy and free speech. So should anyone putting up a bumper sticker that reads "Where there are No Arabs, there are No Terrorist Atrocities". The editorial also mentions by name the ex-general Efi Eitam, Israel’s most promising and fascinating rising politician from the National Religious Party (an ex-kibbutznik turned Orthodox Jew and a powerful speaker). Seems HE dared to disagree with the Haaretz commies as well.

Now I have never understood why newspapers that openly oppose free speech and democracy should be exempt from becoming themselves targeted by everyone from the police to hooligans. I have never been able to work up a tear when Neonazi or Stalinist newspapers or magazines get trashed by critics and opponents. I would find it hard to cry if a PLO Kassem 2 missile hit the Haaretz editorial headquarters at high noon.

And if a future government of the Right should ever decide to send in troops to shut the newspaper down, then please excuse me if I sit out the protest rallies and demonstrations supporting the right of Haaretz to publish its papers freely.

The full editorial: http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=130801&contrassID=2&subContrassID=3&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y&itemNo=130801